Overhead conveyor trolley plates

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved quick disconnect arrangement for attaching linkages to the baseplate of a trolley of an overhead conveyor.

United States Patent Krammer 5 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] OVERHEAD CONVEYORTROLLEY [56] References Cited PLATES UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor: Robert Krammer, Farmmgton, Mich. 2,88 4'1 1 6 4/1959 Leach n[73] Assignee: John M. Leach, Port Jefferson, NY. 2,446,685 8/1948Barker.: ..198/ 177 [22] Filed: 1970 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk [21]Appl. No.: 33,300 Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney-John M.Leach [52] US. CL ..l98/l77 104/94, 105/154 [51 int. n .....Bg 17/20[57] Y ABSIMCT [58] Field oi Search 198/ l 77; /154, 104/94 The presentinvention relates to an improved quick disconnect arrangement forattaching linkages to the baseplate of a trolley of an overheadconveyor.

2Claims, SDI-owing Figures PATENTEDHAR 71972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.Robert Khammer A ti'ar'n e) OVERHEAD CONVEYOR TROLLEY PLATES The presentinvention is an improvement on the conveyor trolleys described andclaimed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,884,l l6 and 3,190,236. The improvementresides specifically in the area of the connection between the linkageand the base plate of the trolley.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection betweenan overhead trolley linkage and base plate which requires no crimping orother distortion of any component.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a connectionbetween an overhead trolley linkage and base plate which can beassembled or disassembled by the aid of a simple readily available toolsuch as an end wrench or hand pliers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connectionbetween an overhead trolley linkage and base plate which reinforces thestrength of the base plate.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon recourse to thefollowing specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a trolley of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the trolley of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the two plates which comprises a trolleybase plate;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the plate of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a keeper plate of the present invention.

The trolleys of the present invention are generally the same as thetrolleys of the above-identified patents in that they comprise twoidentical base plates 12, two vertical wheels 14 attached to the baseplate sections 12 by a bolting assembly comprising a bolt 24 and spacers25, and a horizontal wheel 16. Also, in both cases the trolleys areconnected together by linkages 20.

In the present invention each of the base plate sections 12 is formedwith a boot-shaped slot 18 on each side of the hole 19 for the boltingassembly 24 having a rounded toe opening 30.

Keeper plates 22 overlie the plates 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Each keeperplate 22 has an opening 26 which also receives the bolting assembly 24and two openings 28 which overlie the toe openings 30 in the plates 12when assembled.

To assemble a trolley with linkages a wheel 16 and two plate sections 12are assembled as described in said aboveidentified patents and an eye ofa linkage 20 is placed into each slot 18 and moved down into the toeopening 28. A keeper plate 22 is then positioned on each side of the twoplate sections 12 with each opening 28 engaging a linkage eye 20 and abolting assembly 24 is then bolted in position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2and the trolley is complete.

In assembled condition the keeper plates 22 prevent the linkages 20 fromriding up out of the slots 18 and thus retain the linkages 20 inoperative position at all times. This entire assembly was performed withany convenient tool such as a wrench or pair of pliers and no crimping,hamering or other position disruptive type of operation was required.

Also in assembled condition the keeper plates 22 both stiffen andstrengthen the base plate sections 12 and add to its tensile strengthbetween the two linkages 20.

The present invention makes it possible to remove a trolley from andreplace a new trolley into a conveyor system by just the removal of onebolt with a standard tool such as a wrench.

The foregoing specification is to be considered as descriptive and notlimitative as many changes and modifications can be made in the physicalembodiment of the present invention without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention having been disclosed, what is claimed is:

l. A conveyor trolley comprising a base plate, wheels a wheel shaftcarried by said base plate for fastening said wheels thereto, said baseplate having two vertical slots therein terminating in an edge thereof,a pair of trolley connector linkages each having an eye end positionedwith the eye inserted into one of said slots, a keeper plate positionedto prevent movement of said connector eyes out of said slots and alsofastened to said base late by said shaft.

2. A conveyor tro ey as specified in claim 1 in which said

1. A conveyor trolley comprising a base plate, wheels, a wheel shaftcarried by said base plate for fastening said wheels thereto, said baseplate having two vertical slots therein terminating in an edge thereof,a pair of trolley connector linkages each having an eye end positionedwith the eye inserted into one of said slots, a keeper plate positionedto prevent movement of said connector eyes out of said slots and alsofastened to said base plate by said shaft.
 2. A conveyor trolley asspecified in claim 1 in which said keeper plate extends substantiallyacross and connects the opposite sides of said base plate to strengthensaid base plate.